Feature:
USB woulda been better, but, MIDI and left right and mono output, you can interface to computer very easily with a 35 dollar interface, where on computer one can tweak final mastering etc. The real time controls are super. Ive printed out for free (my cost paper and ink) the manuals and even scored on a Power User manual and have resorted to third party manuals and books from professional sound engineers, to make this product shine. The ability to program, ive not yet experienced, (slow and steady work here) but that ability makes the product stronger, and Very well worth under 200 dollars for a used equipment, the adjustment knobs up tempo w/use of shift key is super, and can be used quickly. I use both digital and analog recording, so there is a great boon. There are a few sites to upgrade sounds from. This is a workable tool, knowing how to use the tool for music makes a lot of difference. Using a mixer (dig. or even analog) is something that makes this unit shine even further for performance.

Quality:
One has a hard time to destroy this unit, was made very tough and durable. Suweet unit.

Value:
If a person were to buy brand new, the newer DAWs would be a thing to look at, but for a sequencer, and/or a unit for DJ or live studio, or recording artist, this is a super product, i highly recommend this, is an integral part of my lil studio. Product's abilities will make this unit last and last.

Desirability:
For performance, ease of use, and learning curve (just do it) and then later, look at the fine manuals i described earlier, this is glossy in my book, id replace mine, if i ever had to... When i show a relative or friend this units' mechanical abilities, sound capabilities, the looks, and feel, + the real time change knobs, not to mention the programming, and disk storage, and memory capabilities, they are all very oggled at my RM1x. Several of my personal friends want one. This unit is my second instrument of choice and usage for recording music. That says a lot, and i havent even yet hooked up my keyboard sampler unit and digital drums to it yet, have recorded 2 and 4 track analog cassette and some to computer through my lil mixer, so the thing keeps me going for capability and function. This unit is also Very portable for gigs or live or recording studios, or even for consistant background music for anything you can imagine...

Sound:
If one were to tweak, the sounds are as complex or as distinct as ya want. Seems everybody knocks the sounds, especially the drums. I hook up to a sampler, but just a recording to a 2 or 4 track analog unit, the sounds are everything ya want, and more, you can fiddle with real-time controlling as DJ and if ya spend time with this unit, it will deliver anything ya want. Find out some sites for new sounds too, something i want to experience. No limit there. With a new chip, I have yet to get, I think this blows away by far for used price, any sequencer out there, ya have to get used to it...

Ease of Use:
Super quick controls, and as deep (programming) as ya want. Right from packaging, this unit performs. The main manual is lengthy, but good for quick start up and function, to in depth, however, there are additional Power User manuals that allow one to get tips on making this so simple, one doesnt have to be a computer programmer to start any project, though the lcd screen has to be kinda used like a magnifying glass, ya kinda scroll where ya need to be, but if you have time to spend like at home getting used to the inputting, great! Super quick to get up n go!

Support:
As an interested party to order a second chip, I'm honestly not too worried about upgrading, as the instructions are well documented, but one should really have a suitable repair tech help with the install, but even if ya dont have much upgrade experience, seems simple enough. If ya have tech experience with any kind of computer products, thatll help even better.

Overall:
I have supplemented and hooked other equipment up using this unit, but this main unit is my second recording gear, so i would definitely look for another RM1x for All the reasons listed above in my review. The only other unit id replace it with, or use instead is a computer DAW. Everything else hooks up with this unit with a small mixer, but if i didnt use a mixer, id just get a whole, expensive hdd enabled DAW. It even hooks up to my computer using the mixer, so i have a DAW+ and for way less money! Way less. I like the most the ability to fine tune my recordings, the clear sounds, the ability to change sounds and patterns, record to machine then to real time control, those i like the most about this unit. Least like? The innocuosly written manual, reminds me of: Fact, it does this, Fact this can happen... The Power User Manual led me on to much of the nitty gritty of the internals and how to quickly access this unit's potentials.

Feature:
I would have given It a 10, but no sampler, But hook up a phrase sampler like an sp303 or a su700 and this is as complete as you can possibly get, you might want to find a nice synth to use with it as well, the "synth" sounds are ok and like I said completely tweakable, but as far as actually sound creation no, as there is no synth built in, pretty damn close though. The sequencer is absolutly amazing, RIVALS software at most all levels, editing is way in depth, I could sit from night to early hours of the morning programing this monster, This thing has taken me away from my software as far as programming completely.

Quality:
an absolute tank, no flimsey platic, solid steel case, sturdy knobs and buttons, mine fell off my key stand more than a couple of times, and refuses to die, you could probably throw it off a cliff and it would just continue to make solid sick beats!

Value:
this totaly worth every cent you spend, beats the crap out of the MC909 for what your paying... for the price of a 909, you can pick up an rm1x, a micro korg, and roland sp303 and totaly blow the 909 completely out of the water!!!!!!!! no doubt!!!!!!!!!

Desirability:
It looks awsome, its a nice mettalic blue, lots of pretty knobs and lights, It could get you laid I'd bet

Sound:
I gave the sounds an 8 just cause' at standard preset, they arent the best, but not the worst....but with its effect processing unit, jesus christ, you can seriously do any thing you want with this machine, 16 effect that can be stacked mixed and combined in any way that you can possibly imagine! I do industrial/noise and this thing pumps out any thing from hard as nail percusions to soft ambient "beats"

Support:
I only put 1 becuase I havent had to deal with them, I really doubt I'll ever have to either

Overall:
Just for its sequencing capabilities alone I will probably have this till its bitter end, If I could find a better hardware sequencer, I would replace it, but I havent, so I wont. I do have to admit, I hate copying one track to another, you have to be carefull, cause once you do, every time you program into the track, it, will copy the midi data to the other track, its like a perma copy, there are work arounds though.

Feature:
This unit has wonderful on stage real time features that are very easy to access. Love the fact that you can play a song directly from disk rather than having to load into memory! Great feature for the performing artist. Also, I like the assignable knobs. Great job here.

Quality:
Not sure yet. Only owned for a couple of months. However, I first demoed this product at a local music store, where the disk drive was not working properly. When I received my unit, the disk drive was not working at all. Had to get a replacement. We'll see how long that lasts. I'm a bit suspicious of the less than durable disk drive. Based on my experience, only use the RM1X in the studio, not on the road.

Value:
Actually, I think the price is probably very good if you are happy with the voices/drum kits in the RM1X. I am not happy with them and I use an external XG tone module. Therefore, it cost me almost double the price to get what I wanted. I would like to see Yamaha sell a unit with just this sequencer in it and skip the 800 not so good voices. It could cost a lot less in the end!

Desirability:
It's pretty impressive looking. The controls are all very nice and organized very well. Maybe the menu knobs could have been positioned a little farther from the display. Sometimes my hand gets in the way and I can't see the display while turning the knobs. But generally, its very cool!

Sound:
Include more voices that sound like real instruments. Too much hip-hop, Techno, etc. That O.K. for adding to existing songs, but if you're trying to create a song from scratch, good luck! Also need better drum kits. These are week. XG drum kits would be very nice.

Support:
I've not needed to talk with Yamaha about support for the RM1X yet, but I have for other products. Generally they are very good at supporting their products. Sometimes it takes a lot of correspondence to make the right connection.

Overall:
This will work for me for quite a while. The sequencer is great for on stage performance. And the editing features make it easy to edit the MIDI data right from the RM1X. Although, I usually do my MIDI editing on the computer.

Feature:
I gave it a nine because it doesnt have a sampler but so what, it has 700 sounds they are all unique the piano and trumpets can be better but so what, the sounds are geard toward just any type of music out there and it can be used for anything i love the synths,kits,everything, i love the effects on this thing, I can make any sound i want, the chorus effect is great i use it alot, reverb,distortion, beat stretch, this thing has it, if u name it

Quality:
This product was made like a tank, yamaha did a great job, they didnt make the manual right though.

Value:
You ca use this thing forever, its better than any other sequencer out right now.

Desirability:
I love this thing its great, I want it so i bought it and you should to.

Sound:
he sound qaulity is a beast, this machine sounds like you made the beat in a studio, as u select different voices you can mix the tracks.

Support:
I found the support great, (I went to the website) it took them a while to email me back but the info came in at a good time.

Overall:
I am completely satisfied with this product and it is worth every penny, everyday I learn something new.

Supa-tite sequencer which gives you complete control over your songs and riddimz!! Great midi controller $ excellent midi compatability; hook it up to a sound module or sampler & start working on da fly! Easy to use and a nice big lite green screen!!Forget dem Roland grooveboxes; those can't touch this baby. Even tho' soundz could be betta, but still ya can't complain for da price!

love playing this machine it`s damn good and all very easy too produce top sounds!,but has it`s limitations,memory,and when you copy a pattern and you already have voices in that section it jumbles them up and the sounds you set have been altered which is frustating but all in all nice one!

Cool and easy handling with impressive features; first I wanted a MPC 2000, but then I felt in Love with this cool blue box, cause of its handling; I use it on stage with a Doepfer Drehbank Midi Controller, which makes me more flexible; Sometimes it sounds really cheap (especially pads and GM stuff, and some snare sounds); and please don't use the filter too often, cause this one sounds too "digital" and therefore not really good;
I use the filter from the Rave-O-Lution 309 and external effects from Korg's Kaoss-Pad; but whoever will go on stage with it, other synths or good sampler is a must;

the rm1x is the best sequencer i've used, equally
matched to the mpc2000 which ive also used.i
promise you that you can make any kind of music
with this, with not one limitation. however
i do recommend for classical music composers(me)
to eventually get a jv1080 or emu module for
sounds.(especially if creating scores). not
to say the sounds of rm are bad, because
the quality is professional if doing rap music
or anything else for that matter but classical
music require overly realistic sounds, as if
having that instrument in your hand. not
really any complaints on the rm1x.an excellent
composition tool., i can guaruntee satisfaction.

I have owned RM1x for over 2 years and I still haven't get tired of it. The most fullfilled groovebox in my studio.